US290310A - Gas imi - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A m0. W. BALDWIN.

l GAS NGINB.

No. 290,310. i Patented Deo. 1a, 1883.

2 SheetSSheet 2.

(No Model.)

C. W. BALDWIN.

GAS ENGINE;

Patented Deo. 1.8,

NJ/e Zar I NiTn STATES PATENT trice.

OYRUS IV. BALDWIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO VILLIAM E.

HALE, OF SAME PLACE.

vGAS-ENGINE.

SECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 290,310, dated December 18, 1883.

Application filed April 11, 1883.

l'c all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, CYRUs W. BALDWIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Gool: and State 4of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engines, of which the following is a specification. y

My invention consists in constructing the engine, as fully described hereinafter, so that the pressure of the gases in the cylinder is made the means of introducing the charge re quired for a subsequent explosion.

The invention further consists in certain details of construction applicable to engines adapted to carry out the above-described mode of operation as well as to engines operating in other ways.

In the drawings, Figure l'is a longitudinal' section of the cylinder of a gas-engine illustrating my improvements; Fig. 2, the same, showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is a section on the line X X, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a section showing a modiiication.

In the class of engines represented in the drawings, Figs. land 2, the cylinder A, closed at both ends, is provided with a dischargeport, x, near the forward end, arranged to be uncovered by the pistonB as it reaches the end of its stroke, to thenl permit the spent gases to escape after the explosion, so that a fresh charge, introduced from the rear, may be compressed on the return movement of the piston. The cylinder is also provided with a port, z', and clap-valve z2, admitting air in front of the piston, and with a circulatingchannel, Z, and rear air-chamber, c, as in the engine patented to me May l, 1883, No. 276, 750, so that the rear movement of the piston will take air into the cylinder and the forward movement will force it into the chamber c, under such pressure as may be found desirable.

An extension ofthe cylinder, forming, in this case, part of the hollow detachable head A', constitutes the cylinder D of the gas-pump,

having a piston, E, which may be provided with a central trunk, o, sliding in a packed opening in the rear head, j, of the cylinder D. The front end of the trunk is closed by a valve, e, the stem d of which slides in a cross-piece,

5o 3, a spring, 7L, bearing against the latter and (No model.)

against a stop on the spindle, and tending to keep the valve to its seat.

rIhe cylinder-head is cut away to form an opening, y, opposite the valve c, and a spring, h, tends to keep the piston E forward in the position shown in Fig. 1. Buffers 5 in the heads of Athe cylinder D receive the blows of the piston E as it reciprocates.

A port, f, atV the rear end of the cylinder D, communicates with a gas-channel, G, leading to the interior of the cylinderA and closed by a check-valve, m, a gas-pipe, F, also provided with a checlcvalve, m, communicating with said channel.

The gas may be introduced pure into the cylinder D; but I prefer to combine it with a definite proportion of air, to make a non-explosive mixture of such a character that when Acombined with the air already in the cylinder A an explosive charge having the gas and air in proper proportions will be produced. The gas may flow from the pipe `F under the vacuum produced by the forward movement of the piston E;- or it may be forced into the cylinder D by means .of a pump, as described in my aforesaid Letters Patent. 0n the backward movement of the piston E, the gas will be forced through the channel G into the cylinder A. The explosion of the charge will drive forward the piston B, the pressure of the gases retaining the piston Ein the rear position, (shown in Fig. 2,) which was assumed when the charge was expelled into the main cylinder. After the piston B passes the port the spent gases escape, and the pressure in the cylinder A is reduced to that of the atmosphere, when the valve e will be lifted, either by the'superior pressure of the air in the chamber c or by the power of the spring h, or by both, and a volume of air will flow from the rear of the cylinder to and through the exhaust, carrying with it the spent gases. The ,springh then i piston E will be drawn forward 5 or,` the piston may move forward under the pressure in the chamber c, and a charge of gas or gas and IOO air will thus be drawn into the pump-cylinder rIhe rearward motion of the piston B compresses the air in the cylinder A and forces back the piston E, which thereby expels the gas or gaseous mixture from the cylinder D, through the portf and channel G,into the main cylinder, to mix with the air therein and constitute another explosive charge under pressure. rI`he additional quantity of gas or frascous mixture thus forced into the cylinder serves to increase the pressure therein, to compensate for the expansion under the forward movement of the piston prior to ignition. I thus secure a measurement of the gas in proper proportion to form the best explosive mixture with the air in the cylinder, fill the latter with air, compress the charge, and after the explosion expel the spent gases, so as to secure an explosion at each forward movement of the main piston without the aid of any actuating appliances for moving the operating parts from the shaft or other moving part of the engine, all the movements being automatic, and resulting, mainly, from the alternate compression and rarefaetion of the gases within the main cylinder.

It will be apparent that the same principle of operation may be made effectual by other contrivances, and Itherei'ore do not limit myself to those shown. For instance. the gases from the cylinder may be led to a separate pump constructed to be operated thereby, and to operate a pump of less area, by which the gas or gaseous mixture is forced into the charge of air in the cylinder, the superior area of the pump-piston causing it to move out under the iniiuence of the pressure in the cylinder A. In such case other means than those before described may be used to introduce the aircharges-for instance, an ejector, as will be set forth and claimed in a separate application for Letters Patent No. 91,386.

By the arrangement of the gas and air chambers and valves and pump and measuring appliances at the rear of the main cylinder, I not only reduce expense in casting and fitting, but secure a more shapely structure. rIhis arrangement may be maintained even when the pump and valves are moved positively by appliances operated from the shaft of the engine.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the gaspump cylinder is formed in the detachable head A, and there are several longitudinal channels G- leading to the inner face of the head, which is the scat for an annular checkvalve, on, surrounding the opening y. rlhe superior area of the piston E causes it to move back under the pressure in the main cylinder, so that the gas is expelled from the pump-cylinder through the channels G and between the face of the head and the annular valvethus raised from its seat.V In this form of engine the airis admitted through a passage, T, provided with a valve, U, which is raised when the cylinder is exhausted, or by the vacuum produced by the forward movement of the piston after the exhaust is closed.

I therefore claiml. The combination, with the cylinder of a gas-engine, of apump constructed to measure and discharge the gas into the main cylinder. the pump-cylinder communicating at one end with the main cylinder and containing a piston which is reciprocatcd under and by the varying pressures in the main cylinder, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a gas-engine cylinder and a gas-pump and communications whereby the pressure within the cylinder is made themeans of operating the pump to force gas into the cylinder under pressure, substantially as setforth.

3. The pump-cylinder communicating at one end with the gas-pipe and main cylinder. at the other with the main cylinder only, and containing a loose piston, in combination with valves arranged substantially as set forth.

l. The combination, with the main cylinder, of a pump-cylinder communicating therewith, containing a loose piston, and connections whereby the pump-cylinder is supplied with gas on the forward motion of the pumppiston, and the latter is caused to move back and discharge the gas into the main cylinder as the pressure therein increases, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a main or working cylinder, and a pum p-cylinder communicating therewith and with a gas-pipe, and containing a loose piston arranged to operate under the pressure of the gases, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the main cylinder, pump-cylinder, channeled piston provided with avalve, and air-casing communicating with the channel of the piston, substantially as set forth. v

7. rIhe combination, with the main cylinder, of the cylinder D, trunk-piston E, carrying a valve, c, and springs h. h and ports and valve m, substantially as set forth.

S. The combination ofthe main cylinder of a gas-engine, and a pul'np-cylinder provided with a piston and valves, arranged substantially as described, whereby to pump a charge of gas into the main cylinder as the main piston compresses the air-charge therein.

9. The pump-piston arranged within a prolongation of the main cylinder, and provided with ports f 3/ and valves m e, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CYRUS XV. BALDVIN.

W'itnesses:

I-IoLMi-is Hoen, Jxo. J. ARIN.

IIO

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